Rail tie and fastener.



G. A. BELKNAP. RAIL TIE AND FASTENER. ,APPLICATION FILED JAN.3,1911.

Patented June 27, 1911.

THE Nomzls PETERS cu.. wus'- 1 ./rv. n, c.

narran srnrns rarnni onirica.

GARDNER A. BELKNAP, OF CONNEAUTVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL '.TIE 'AND FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 3, 1911.

Patented June 27, 1911. Serial No. `600,580.

lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to rail ties of the composition type and fastening means for securing the rail thereto and has for .one ofv its objects the provision of an improved` `construction of tie whereby an enlarged bearing surface is provided under the rails by forming the tie wider under the rails, the widened portion being formed with slots to receive bolts that engage the clamping plates, said structure makin Ait possible t-o renew broken or defective bo ts while the tie and rails remain in place.

My invention also has for its object'the' provision of a reinforcing rod for the tie that extends through the tie longitudinally and provided with threaded ends to receive.

nuts to be tightened on the rod after the tie has dried and seasoned to hold the tie together securely and forming a truss to prevent it from cracking transversely.

My invention further has for its object the provision of an improved rail clamping means embodying adjustable holding members secured by the bolts aforesaid and a rec' tangular washer mounted on each bolt and engaging a shoulder on the holding member, the bolt hole in the washer being arranged at diderent distances from each side of the washer so that the clamping members may be adjusted to counteract the wear on the inner sides of the rails from engaging the flanges of car wheels.

My invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view partly in section of my improved tie, Fig. 2, a side view, Fig. 3, a detail view of one of the clamping members, and Fig. 4c, a detail view of one of the rectangular washers. 2

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

My improved tie 1 is made of concrete or other suitable plastic material and is provided with a reinforcing rod 2 that extends through the tie from end to end and has a threaded end extending beyond each end of the'tie on which threaded `ends are mounted nuts-S and washers 4. Inmaking my tie, after it has dried and seasoned, the nuts 3 are screwed up on the rod 2 causing the rod to act as a truss to prevent lateral breaking of the tie.

In molding the tie it is formed with widened portions 5 `where the rails A are to be supported to give an enlarged bearing on the `ground as well as to strengthen the tie where the greatest strain comes.

The ends of the widened portions 5 are lbeveled as shown at 6 and provided with slots 7 to receive bolts 8 that are utilized to engage the clamping members 9 that hold the rails secured to the tie, slots 7 extending the full thickness of the tie so that should the bolts break or become defective they may be renewed without disturbing the tie or rails. The clamping members 9 are each formed' with a shoulder 10 that engages the edges of the base of the lrail and an 'elongated hole l1 to receive a clamping bolt 8.

As is well known, the grinding of the wheel flanges on the inner sides of the rails gradually wears the rails off on the inner sides of the treads and unless counteracted in some manner the rails will become Worn so badly as to be a source of danger. Ordinarily this wearing of the rails is counteracted by reversing the rails and then renewing them.

In my invention I provide a clamping mechanism by which the rails may be moved toward the middle of the tie by degrees to counteract the wear on the treads of the rails consisting of a square washer 12 to engage the shoulder 10 on the clamping member 9, and formed with a bolt hole 13 that is not in the center of the Washer but arranged at varying distances from its side edges.

In using my clamping members when the rails are lirst laid, the washers on the clamping members on the inner sides of the rails are placed so that the edge farthest from the bolt hole 12 engage the shoulders l0, and the washers on the outer sides of the rails have the edges nearest the bolt holes engaging the shoulders on the clamping members. As the rails are worn by the grinding of the wheel flanges t-he washers on the inner sides of the rails are readjusted so that the edges nearer the hole and of the washers on the outer sides so that the edges farther from the hole are used in turn, thus making four adjustments for each side of each rail or sixteen adjustments in all for the two rails. The elongated holes 11 in the members 9 admit of the sliding adjustment of the members as just described.

14 indicates a wear plate between the rail A and tie 1.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is- 1. A railway tie having vertical slots in the sides thereof and opening laterally of said sides, and rail holding members renliovably and replaceably mounted in said s ots.

2. A fastening for railway rails comprising an adjustable clamping member having a shoulder, engaging means for said clamp ing member, and a washer to engage said shoulder having an aperture therein to receive said engaging means that is unequally dist-ant from the sides of the washer.

3. A fastening for railway rails comprising an adjustable clamping member having a shoulder, means to engage said clamping member, and a rectangular washer engaging said shoulder and having an aperture therein to receive said engaging means that is unequally distant from its sides.

4. A railway tie and rail fastening means comprising a tie having vertical slots in the sides thereof and opening laterally of said sides, rail clamping members, and means to engage said clamping members, said engaging means being removably and replaceably mounted in said slots by being moved laterally of the tie.

5. A railway tie and rail fastening means comprising a tie having vertical slots therein, rail clamping members having elongated holes therein, said clamping members having shoulders, bolts removably and replaceably mounted in said slots and engaging the holesin the clamping members, and rectangular Washers engaging the shoulders on the clamping members, each of said washers having an aperture therein to receive the bolts aforesaid, said aperture being unequally distant from the sides of the washer.

In testimony whereof I hereto aiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GARDNER A. BELKNAP.

Witnesses:

L. D. CoREY, H. C. GREENFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

